We are always open to proposals for new working groups to address evolving social justice challenges.

Overdose Crisis and Police Accountability

The new Overdose Crisis and Police Accountability Working Group is working to build strategies to end the criminalization of drug users in Vancouver. The working group has started researching efforts to lobby the police and municipal representatives to create a “sanctuary city” for drug possession. We welcome participation from lawyers, activists, and community members in this effort. We are also interested in potentially hosting a hackathon to develop an app responding to a community need with regard to police accountability or drug use.

Movement Legal Support & Housing

The Movement Legal Support and Housing Working Group (MLS) is building legal support capacity for movements, including Indigenous land & water protection and housing activists. Projects include:

the feasibility of a dedicated hotline for activists to access legal support for actions and causes; and,

approaches for campaigning against the use of injunctions to stifle dissent, including mobilizing the broader activist community to encourage elected representatives to pass anti-SLAPP legislation.

Access to Justice

The Access to Justice Working Group (A2J) is researching how barriers to legal services are experienced by affected communities and service providers.